Bansuri

The flute has been used throughout India since ancient times. Thus, it is called many different names. In north India, it is called venu, vansi, bansuri or murali; and in the south, it is known as pillankuzhal, pillanagrovi, or kolalu. All of these names refer either to the bamboo that is used to make the flutes or to their hollow tube-like shape.
Although it is not clear when the instrument has been used, it is certainly one of the oldest musical instruments. This is clear from its frequent appearance in carved reliefs at old stone temples all over India.

The Flute in Ancient Times

"Earlier and later vedic texts refer to the flute as venu. It was used as accompaniment to vedic recitations along with veena (harp). These sources also refer to a kind of flute called tunava employed during sacrifices.Nadi was another variety, probably made of reed, played to propitiate Yama, the Lord of Death. Not only was it an important instrument in religious ceremonies, but the flutist was one of the victims of human sacrifice inPurushamedha yajna ritual." (An Introduction to India Music by B.C. Deva)
In one of the most important books on Indian music theory, Sangeeta Ratnakara (13th century), Sarangadeva refers to 13 different sizes of flute.

The Flute in Folk Music

Not only is the flute familiar to Indian people as an actual musical instrument, but also as a divine instrument; other examples include the goddess of art Saraswati's veena, and Shiva's damaru.
Colorful portraits of gods and goddesses are sold on the street in India. Krishna is one of them and is usually pictured with a flute. In one Indian myth, Radha, Krishna's lover, and Gopis, a shepherdess are attracted by flute-playing. (As a male bansuri player, I am very much interesting in what kind of sound or music enchants young beautiful girls.)
The flute has been known and used as an accompanying instrument in folk songs for many years. But using the flute in classical music is comparatively new, especially in Hindustani music, which didn't use the flute until quite recently.
Supporters of Hindustani music are an elite group in Indian society. Most Hindu musicians belong to the brahmin caste, and most Moslems have ancestors who converted to Islam from high Hindu castes to better their social position during the Mughal dynasty. Many were once vocalists or players of string instruments like veena, sitar, or sarod, elaborately crafted instruments that only a limited number of people could afford. The audiences were mainly composed of members of the ruling class, and included emperors and aristocrats.
Hindustani music developed and grew in these circumstances. The flute then was considered to be a lower instrument played to accompany folk songs by ordinary people. Perhaps people of higher castes, who were much preoccupied with concepts of pureness and impureness, considered the flute somewhat impure, especially because it requires direct contact of the mouth and lips. This may be one reason why it is so difficult to find much record about the flute, despite the many stories and legends focusing about music and musicians.

The Late Panna Lal Ghosh

pannalalThe appearance of one outstanding artist in Hindustani music in recent times, however, helped establish the bansuri as a major instrument. This was Panna Lal Ghosh (1911-1960). He is known as the first musician to play Hindustani music on bansuri. He developed a longer bansuri to generate lower sounds and more subtle expressions, while the short bansuri was used for folk songs. He gave the name tippeli to the longer version (approximately 70 cm).
Ghosh studied Hindustani music from the age of 13 with the late Allauddin Khan (1881-1962), who was known as the restorer of modern Hindustani music. Allauddin Khan raised many talented artists such as Ali Akbar Khan, his son and a prominent sarod player, Annapurna Devi, his daughter, Ravi Shankar who married Annapurna, the late Nikhil Banerjee, and so on. Ghosh's records are still available even now, 35 years after his death. His name will not be forgotten not only as a great performer, but as the musician who established the bansuri in Hindustani music.

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia

harijiAfter Ghosh was recognized, others started to play classical music on the bansuri. Hariprasad Chaurasia (Hariji) has became one of the most popular. Although Hariji is a top musician today, his debut as a classical musician was rather late. An article in India Today in 1987 noted, " He was unknown even six years ago." Considering his world popularity today, it is surprising that he was in his early forties when he started playing classical music; most classical musicians make their debut at a young age in India. His name has now become synonymous with the word "bansuri."